DR Congo must secure victories against South Sudan and Mauritania to keep its hopes alive in the race for a place at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
With a fully available squad, the Leopards have little room for error as they seek to climb the standings in Group B of the African qualifiers.
Currently sitting third with seven points from four matches, DR Congo has experienced a mixed qualifying campaign so far.
After opening with a 2-0 win over Mauritania, they suffered a setback against Sudan (0-1) before earning a valuable 1-1 draw against Senegal.
A hard-fought 1-0 victory over Togo in their most recent outing restored momentum, but the coming fixtures will be crucial in determining their qualification prospects.
Favorable fixtures but no guarantees
The upcoming matches appear manageable on paper, with DR Congo facing the two lowest-ranked sides in the group.
First, they host South Sudan on Friday, March 21, at the Stade des Martyrs in Kinshasa, before traveling to Nouakchott to take on Mauritania on Tuesday, March 25.
South Sudan and Mauritania sit at the bottom of the table with two and one points, respectively, making them seemingly beatable opponents.
However, any slip-up could prove costly, as the Leopards must take full advantage of these encounters to close the gap on their direct rivals.
Full squad ready for battle
Head coach Sébastien Desabre has the luxury of calling upon a complete squad, with key players available for selection.
The team has been reinforced by the return of captain Chancel Mbemba, along with Simon Banza, Ngalayel Mukau, Noah Sadiki, and Dimitry Bertaud.
With Mbemba anchoring the defense, Samuel Moutoussamy and Charles Pickel controlling the midfield, and a potent attack led by Banza and Cédric Bakambu, DR Congo has the personnel to deliver two vital wins.
Trailing group leaders Sudan (10 points) and second-placed Senegal (8 points), DR Congo knows that maximum points from these matches are essential to stay in contention for qualification.
A successful double-header could not only improve their position in the table but also apply pressure on their competitors.
DR Congo’s remaining fixtures – 2026 World Cup qualifiers
Matchday 5: Friday, March 21, 2025
DR Congo vs. South Sudan – 17:00 GMT
Matchday 6: Tuesday, March 25, 2025
Mauritania vs. DR Congo – 22:00 GMT
With qualification at stake, the Leopards must seize their opportunity and make a decisive push toward securing their place at the 2026 World Cup.
